Just in case you’re not sick of the OCLC V. The Library Hotel story, Here’s Another Article from the Star Tribune that sums things up nicely.
“Dewey copyrighted his system early on and set up a company, Forest Press, to sell it, although he often donated his system to needy libraries. He never intended to get rich with his system, said Wayne Wiegand, a professor of library and information studies at Florida State University and the author of a Dewey biography.“
OCLC suing NYC hotel
This is totally absurd and evil. They should have nicely contacted them and told them the situation. But the fact is that they are no more using the Dewey Decimal System than the man in the moon. The hotel was great publicity for the Dewey System and they should have written them a letter THANKING THEM for what they did.
Re:OCLC suing NYC hotel
Thanking them for trademark infringement? Sure, go right ahead. FWIW, OCLC sent the hotel three letters asking them to at least acknowledge that OCLC holds the trademark on the Dewey system, and basically the hotel told them to f*ck off. It’s only the media that has twisted it and made OCLC the “bad guys”.
Re:OCLC suing NYC hotel
I don’t understand why this thing is about trademark…they did not re-sell their product, use it, etc. All librarians know that thousands of libraries use Dewey without being sued – and they are USING IT…Dewey should be put into non-copyright status anyway. It’s like suing a company for using “xerox” as a generic term for photo-duplication. Or rollerball company suing someone for using their term instead of in-line skating….which actually happened to one library.
Re:OCLC suing NYC hotel
The hotel could have avoided all of this by simply acknowledging OCLC as the trademark holder, much like how every library who uses it does in some way or another. If they don’t keep a hold of this trademark, they will esentially give up all rights to it, much like xerox, kleenex, and other trademarks that have become common terms for things of those natures.
Re:OCLC suing NYC hotel
I have to say that many librarians I know do not know that Dewey is copyrighted. Why didn’t OCLC just call them UP? I hope the library bookings have skyrocketed. – Steve
Re:OCLC suing NYC hotel
It’s not a copyright, it’s a trademark. Also, if you read OCLC’s press release and my previous reply, you would know that OCLC sent them three letters before filing the suit.